Billie Jean King Understands Colin Kaepernick

When Billie Jean played, she charged the net at every opportunity. That has been her life, moving forward, poised to hit a winner.

The effects of BJK's fights for financial equality, dignity for women, and her work as a white ally will be felt for generations to come. She was publicly humiliated at several points in her life, and she kept on. This puts her in the company of Hillary Rodham Clinton. When I feel despondent about the state of the world, I remember these women who have put up with constant malarkey to elevate each of us. We must fight the good fight--always.

Billy Jean is a true American!

King is ingenuous to distinguish between the Kaepernick protest and his disrespecting the Anthem. Kaepernick would be protesting in obscurity if it weren't for that disrespect.

This interview with Billy Jean King reminds me of the complexity of honoring individuals with statues. Ms. King should be lauded for her breaking barriers for women and the L.G.B.T. community while she continues to act irresponsibly in not apologizing her role in promoting actions (smoking) that most certainly hurt and/or killed people within those groups. Do we honor one aspect without acknowledging the other? Do we ignore achievements because of one's faults? Complicated, isn't it.

Billy Jean, you look wonderful and very comfortable in your own skin. Congratulations! I also know how hard it is to overcome an eating disorder, as I have suffered from this for the past 20 years. I'm 70 years old. This takes courage to discuss and again I am in awe of your boldness. But what I am really writing about is Colin's knee-down during the national anthem. As I am white I can not imagine what life is like for black citizens of our country but I believe it to be rough. I guess I no longer think the flag flies for all Americans and I salut Colin for having the courage to make everyone stop and think why he is doing this defiant/righteous act.

I worked on the Virginia Slims tennis tournament, in promotion on local events. Yes, Phillip Morris did a lot for women's tennis. The sport wouldn't be what it is today without them. But, they were horrible, money-grubbing, egotistical people -- so contrary to the classiness of Billie Jean, Margaret Court, and all the rest. Phillip Morris took advantage of these young women as much as they helped promote the sport.

Her brilliant, not-to-be-diminished tennis aside, BJK is one of history's greatest gender rights and social justice advocates, her use of sport as a culture-shifting platform produced some of the greatest examples of how sport can change the world. Not be overlooked: Her work on ecologically greening the USTA. She's done so much.

Billy Jean King brought a lot of taboo social issues to the forefront. She was a cultural difference maker. More importantly, she was a great tennis player.

"...some of the best people we worked with, at Philip Morris..." Billy Jean knew what she was doing--she was being paid a lot of money to allow that cigarette company to use her athletic image to market Marlboro lights and Virginia Slims cigarettes to young teenagers and women. As far as I know she has never apologized for this shameful conduct. I respect her success as a tennis player, but as far as I am concerned she has a very tarnished image.

I remember watching Billie Jean during her early career. Didn't know about her racial attitudes or her sexual preference. So I admire her now as a person even more than I did as a tennis champion. Good article.

Billie Jean King is a true American hero.

Thank You BJK, I ahve a whole new outlook on you and Tennis. Tim Warner

>>"Those were some of the best people we worked with, at Philip Morris. They were fantastic people. But did I like it? Absolutely not."

What?? Such hypocrisy. So then why did she join the Board of Philip Morris in 1999, as the company continued to hook kids and advertise to women here and around the world? Women's smoking rates skyrocketed during Virginia Slims, with the resultant skyrocketing of women's lung cancer rates 30 years later.

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/press_releases/post/id_0151

Just today the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) announced it will bar tobacco companies from participating in the initiative. (Other banned companies? Any involved in landmines, chemical, nuclear and biological weapons. Great company she keeps!)

As Bill Dobbs, of ACT-UP/NY, said about Philip Morris' philanthropy in 1991: "This settlement . . .represents us taking money from walking over the bodies of those killed by cigarettes."

Would that King had shown such morality. It would have put off the rise of women's sports--and her stardom--a few years, yes. But how many women's lives would have been saved?

If she didn't like it then--she should speak out NOW.

God Bless Billie Jean King!

I see the Times dislikes any criticism of BJK whatsoever--especially if it dares to mention the link between Virginia Slims' targeting of women in the 70s and rising female lung cancer rates today.

"Coretta Scott King used to talk about how each generation has to start the fight for freedom over ... "

And we can never give up, because the other side will never give up. The only question is, how do we persuade each generation that the time has come to fight again? We couldn't convince the young women of the 2000s that we were on course to losing access to reproductive rights--and now we have bizarre, draconian state laws across the country and plenty of politicians thirsting for more. How do we avoid losing similar ground when it comes to the other rights we hold dear?

Fantastic interview. Always nice to check in with Ms. King, one of my early role models, and see that she is doing well and still fighting the good fight(s).

I was 15 when Billie Jean played this match and believe me, it was a very big deal for girls growing up during that time -- and for a lot of adult women, too. And it wasn't about sports for most of us (I'm not the slightest bit athletic). We needed role models for taking on sexism. Her courage, enormous skill and good humor were inspiring -- and still are.

This is a better world because of Billie Jean King. May she have a long and happy life.

I don't like tennis, don't understand the point system. It's just not my thing in any way. But I love Billie Jean. She's way bigger than tennis. That became clear to many girls in the 1970s, athletic, awkward, whatever. Her courage and triumphs on and off the court are a national treasure. Respect.

billie jean king is the best and it is terrific she is receiving positive attention in such a big -major motion picture -way. her continuing contributions to sport, to tennis and for women, are unmatched. and to accomplish all that as a gay woman is extrodinary , because most of the public, most of the time, would not give her deserved respect. with the eye/hand coordination of a cantaloupe i am not a sportsman but i do admire her so much , not only as a great champion but a great woman.

The first question and the response about the pendulum is very compelling. Fear of change focuses on differences. The solutions to society's ills are complex. However, freedom from fear can begin by believing in and practicing the golden rule, equal opportunity, and meritocracy.

I have learned so much for Billie and I am very grateful for her willingness to speak out against racial, economic and LGBT inequality. What a wonderful teacher for all of us. Thank you Billie, you have a lasting positive impact on so many! KMS